PROVO, Utah – A five-run third inning was enough to give BYU baseball an 8-5 victory over visiting Utah Tech at Miller Park on Tuesday. Center fielder Cole Gambill had two home runs and three RBIs to pace BYU’s 10-hit evening.
Junior Peyton Cole started the game on the hill for the Cougars and earned the win to improve to 2-0 on the season. Ryan Hardman (0-6) took the loss for Utah Tech. BYU is now 12-19 on the year, while Utah Tech falls to 8-24.
“It was a great team effort tonight and it always feels good to win the in-state games,” said BYU head coach Trent Pratt. “We pitched around some jams, our guys swung the bats well and we turned some double plays in key moments. Cougar Nation is awesome. We had a great crowd tonight and really appreciated our fans coming out to support us.”
Game Summary
- Gambill finished the night with a game-high three hits and three runs
- Austin Deming also had a two-run home run for the Cougars as part of the five-run third inning
- Five different pitchers took the hill for BYU, while Utah Tech had seven take the mound
- Neither team registered an error on defense
BYU Highlights
- Cole Gambill: 3-4, 2 HRs 2B, 3 RBI, 3 runs
- Luke Anderson: 2-3, 2 hits, 2 runs, RBI
- Cutter Clawson: 2.1 IP, 4 Ks
BYU struck first in the bottom the first with a two-run home run from Gambill to left field. His shot came on a full count with two outs and also scored Luke Anderson, who walked earlier in the frame.
Utah Tech had a home run of its own in the top of the second inning and added another run in the third to even the score, 2-2. The Cougars then responded in the bottom of the inning with five runs to regain the lead, 7-2.
A single from Anderson brought in Ozzie Pratt, who had doubled to right field. Austin Deming then connected on his eighth home run of the season to add two runs. Tuesday was his first game back after missing the previous 10 with an injury. Hits from Jacob Wilk and Chad Call finished the scoring for the Cougars after Gambill doubled and Cole Vest earned first base with a hit by pitch. Wilk nearly scored on Call’s double as well but was thrown out at home for the final out of the inning.
Utah Tech cut the lead to four in the fifth inning before Gambill’s second homer of the night restored BYU’s advantage to 8-3. The Cougar center fielder went opposite-field from his first shot with a ball over the right field fence for his seventh home run of the season.
The Trailblazers added a run in each of the seventh and eighth innings to cut the BYU lead to 8-5. Utah Tech then loaded the bases in the eighth after the home run, but a 4-6-3 double play got the Cougars out of the inning.
Boston Mabeus came in to close out the game for BYU in the top of the ninth. He struck out all three batters to earn his second save of the season and secure the 8-5 victory.
The Cougars next resume WCC play with a three-game series at Santa Clara, April 13-15. The series is scheduled to be played at Stephen Schott Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
All three games will be broadcast live on the BYU Radio App and BYU Radio 107.9 FM in the northern Utah market, with Greg Wrubell on the call.